Photo/Illutration Murder and arson suspect Shinji Aoba is questioned by police at a detention center in Osaka on May 28. (Koshin Mukai)

KYOTO--The injured suspect in an arson attack at an animation studio in Kyoto that killed 36 people thought for nearly a year that the dead totaled “only two or so,” according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Shinji Aoba, 42, of Saitama, was arrested on May 27 for murder and arson by Kyoto prefectural police.

Upon his arrest, Aoba, who had suffered severe burns, learned for the first time that his alleged crimes killed 36 people and injured 33, many of them seriously. He asked, “Is that right?” according to the sources.

Aoba has admitted to the allegations and told investigators, “I thought I could kill many people with gasoline, and I did.”

He said he “had held grudges against” Kyoto Animation Co. but did not name specific individuals.

According to the investigation, Aoba entered the first floor of the No. 1 studio of the popular animation company in Kyoto on June 18, 2019, poured gasoline on the floor and then set it on fire.

He suffered severe burns in the arson attack and required hospitalization for a long period. Aoba has received repeated skin grafts.

Only medical staff and investigators were apparently allowed to see Aoba.

Kyoto Animation has denied Aoba’s claim that he “committed the crime because the company stole his novel.”

The Kyoto District Court granted a 10-day detention period for Aoba, which will continue until June 5. 

Investigators hope to find evidence to corroborate Aoba’s statements and find out more about his murderous intent, deliberateness of the crimes, as well as his culpability for criminal liability.

The Kyoto prefectural police determined that Aoba had sufficiently recovered from his injuries on the morning of May 27 to be transported for questioning. He was transferred to the Fushimi police station building in the city’s Fushimi Ward on a stretcher.

By the evening, Aoba had been moved to a detention center in Osaka.